Club of the Week: Doncaster

Tony Miller says that his players are peaking at the right time, as Doncaster look to secure their place in the Championship play-offs.

After 22 league games the Dons are seventh, two points clear of Workington in ninth, and with the top eight qualifying for the end of season finals, Miller is confident his side will make it.

He said, “We have got a good chance of making the play-offs. We have peaked at the right time and we are playing our best rugby of the season at the moment.”

Miller is well aware of how big an achievement qualifying for the post-season would be for Doncaster, in their first campaign at this level since 2009.

“If we do make the top eight, it will be just as good an achievement as last year,” said Miller, who led the side to both League Leaders and Grand Final success in the 2012 Championship One.

“We have grown as a group and adjusted well to the higher level – I can’t fault the efforts of the players.”

Miller told Love Rugby League that the two players who have impressed him most this term have been forwards Michael Kelly and Mike Emmett.

“Kelly has been constantly improving for the last couple of seasons and he has done it again this year, while Emmett has been superb, and in my eyes is one of the best players in the division.”

After a 23-year connection with the club Miller is stepping down at the end of the season, but luckily for his replacement – current stand-off Paul Cooke – he has already secured a new contract for Emmett, alongside four more of the club’s key forwards.

Mark Castle, Brett Waller, Matt Carbutt and Russ Spiers have all committed to the Dons and the stability this provides could be vital next season, ahead of 2015’s anticipated restructuring.